3/3/2017

​When you are considering a home improvement project, it is important to identify which jobs you can do on your own and which ones to offer to a handyman. As a homeowner, you can handle simple tasks such as changing a light bulb or repairing a faucet, but complex jobs require the attention of an expert.DIY or Hire a Handyman - How to make a Decision?If you are on the fence about hiring a handyman, you must consider the following five questions. They will help you to make a well-thought decision.

Do you know the Requirements of the Home Improvement Project?

It is very important to know the scope of the work. It will help you to complete your home improvement project successfully. If you are unaware about the work that you need to undertake for the project, it is best to hire a handyman. As a handyman is expert at home maintenance, he will be able to the job quicker.

Do you know how much Material is required to finish the Project?

Different projects have different requirements. Are you aware of the quantity of raw materials that you will require for the project? Plan the project in detail and write down the number of things that your will need. For example, if it's an electrical renovation project, you must ascertain the number of light switches that you will need to install.

If the home improvement project is a complex one with lots of electrical work, it is best to hire an expert. You don't want to put your family at risk. Also, hiring a handyman will protect your home, your most precious asset.

Do you have the Knowledge and the Tools?

We want to feel the sense of accomplishment that comes with finishing a home improvement project. But, it is important to know which projects are beyond our abilities. Remember that if you are unable to do the work properly, you will have to spend additional money in hiring a handyman.

Do you have the Time to complete the Project?

Ask yourself: Will I be able to dedicate myself to the project? Managing your day job and juggling all family commitments is stressful. If you add another task to your long list of responsibilities, it can become difficult for you. Why spend your hard-earned holiday on replacing the roof shingles? Why not use it to relax and rejuvenate?

Do you want to undertake the Strenuous Process of applying for Licenses and Permits?

Minor home renovations such as fixing a chandelier or painting the kitchen cabinets do not require license and permits. But if you're going to add a room, or alter a load-bearing wall, you will have to apply for the required permits. Any home improvement project that involves changing the overall structural integrity of your home warrants approval from the local government body. Are you ready to apply for licenses and permits required to finish your project? It can be a time-consuming task. On the other hand, hiring a handyman will give you peace of mind and confidence.

The ResultIf you think that the home improvement project is not your cup of tea, hire a handyman to complete it. With an expert, you can be rest assured about the quality of work. Hiring a handyman may be costlier than doing work on your own. But, you will be able to enjoy durable results because of his experience and expertise.Remember that DIY jobs can be enticing because of the benefit of low cost. But if you lack the knowledge and skills, the results won't impress your family, friends and neighbors. So, when you think that you cannot manage to get the desired results on your own, it is best to hire a handyman.Perfect Handyman Toronto is a reliable handyman for doors and windows repair as well as furniture assembly. Hire us for complete home renovation in GTA. Get in touch with the experts now.Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Christine_Delongte/2157989

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2/1/2017

When it comes to fireplace inserts, many homeowners are simply looking to add an accent to the room's decor. It may be tempting to rig some kind of DIY solution to add ambience and some light or warmth. However, such improvisation may literally involve playing with fire. Especially when combustibles are involved, the safety of family members and investment in the home are sufficient reasons to just buy pre-fabricated fireplace inserts. Here are some examples of reasons to avoid the alternatives.Why not build your own gas burner?How hard could it be? While you may have been adept at lighting the bunsen burner in high school or firing up the backyard grill, the temptation to build your own gas fireplace is one that should be avoided. The metal pipes can be cheaply purchased, and you may already know how to solder or weld, but the engineers who make gas fireplace inserts know just how big and far apart to make the perforations. They have done the math to make sure that the flame stays lit and doesn't trigger an explosion that turns your chimney into a missile silo for launching scrap metal.Why not use the space for flower arrangements?Flowers are accents that demand at least the option of close inspection, and this space is generally close to the level of the floor. Something as intricate and high-maintenance as flowers (which must be periodically changed) deserves to be closer to the line of sight of residents and guests. If you plan to use artificial flower arrangements, then you may be beyond help when it comes to interior decorating tips. Artificial flower arrangements are best placed inside of functional fireplaces while there's a hearty, rolling flame. Just be careful of the plastic fumes.Why not paint the inside or place artwork in front?Painting the interior bricks can make the unused hearth look like more of a statement, but it's a statement that falls flat. While stone and brick are not the only color options available, a clean white or bright red paint job only highlights the fact that the space isn't being used for its intended purpose. You could paint a window black or fill a bathtub to the brim with small stones, but the artistic expression doesn't need to run directly contrary to function.Similarly, leaning artwork against the mantle or placing it fully inside are less than ideal solutions. Leaning artwork to block the opening makes the home look like it's being prepped for an estate sale, and placing artwork inside makes it look like you strongly disapprove of those particular brushstroke choices. Artwork shouldn't be placed there unless it's slated for incineration.Ultimately, anyone looking to make use of a hearth without simply burning a stack of wood should speak with professionals about fireplace inserts. Gas, electric, and wood-burning options are available, and they allow for safe adjustment of temperature in a room. Some even come with remote controls. No DIY solution will be as safe or stylish as a professionally installed insert.To learn more about fireplace inserts, Sacramento residents should visit http://www.pacifichearthandhome.com/services/.

14/12/2016

Installing a solar power system in your home to generate your own free electricity sounds great-until you see the price tag. Prices for a professional installation start at $27,000 and rise quickly from there. This financial barrier has inspired many resourceful people to figure out how to build and install their own solar panels. Unfortunately, it has also led to a cottage industry of scams and swindles. The internet is now flooded with companies selling do-it-yourself green energy how-to manuals, usually accompanied by grandiose claims of how cheap and easy it is to build.The latest contestant in this arena is Green DIY Energy, so we intend to do a complete review.The Claims:Like any company trying to sell its product, Green DIY Energy makes several impressive claims that, at first glance, may seem too good to be true. What struck us most, however, was how relatively few grandiose claims this product made compared to its many competitors. It seems to be comparatively straightforward-or at least modest-in what its product can do.Green DIY Energy Review: Construction TimeOne of the claims many green energy scams make is that you can build a solar panel or wind turbine remarkably fast, sometimes in a single weekend. While not impossible, it is very unlikely-an experienced electrical engineer in a workshop stocked with all tools and materials needed, working straight through the weekend without and break or distractions, might be able to complete the project in that amount of time. But for the average homeowner in a garage workshop, it will likely take much longer.We were pleasantly surprised, then, when Green DIY Energy did NOT make any promises of super-fast construction. The only mention of how long it took to construct was a testimonial of a teenager who built a solar panel as a "summer project" by working "every Monday for a few hours."The Tools:Another sneaky move by green DIY energy scam websites is only include the cost of materials when quoting how cheaply a solar panel can be built. Their customers may find out later that they have buy specific tools for the job, driving the price up.Green DIY Energy is the first such website we've seen that acknowledges this distinction. In fact, they caution their customers that "before you try to build your own solar power, you need to have the right tools." Sure, the customer may have to buy some tools for the project, but at least they were warned of that possibility before buying the product.Solar Panel vs. Solar Power SystemAnother trick the green DIY energy scam sites use is exploiting people's ignorance of the difference between a solar panel and a solar power system. A solar panel is only one part of a solar power system-but it is the most visible. While the solar panel sits on the roof for all to see, the rest of the solar power system is usually inside the building, hidden from sight. Consequently, it's easy for someone to not realize there's more to the system than the solar panels.Such bogus sites promise being able to build a solar panel at a low cost. It's not until the customer has bought and read the manual that they realize they also have to buy and assemble the battery banks, the charge controller, DC inverter, etc. The cost of these, of course, was not included in the advertised price, which was just for the solar panel.Given this, it was a pleasant surprise to find that Green DIY Energy not only acknowledged this difference, but pointed it out to their potential customers. Their DIY manual, they claim, will show you how to build solar panels for $98 apiece. Then it will also show you how to build the rest of the solar power system for $200. This brings the total cost of the project to around $300-which is higher than some of their competitor's claims. Still, $300 for a solar power system is a much more realistic estimate-and it's still an incredibly low price for a solar power system!The SavingsMany of these other sites prominently feature promises of how much you can save off your power bill. Other green DIY energy scam sites promise savings of 35%, 50%, and 80%. The truth is that no one can estimate how much a single solar panel can save you, because almost every household uses different amounts of electricity every month. There's a difference in electricity consumption between a bachelor who is rarely home, and a household with three kids and a stay-at-home mother. Some of these sites even claim you can eliminate your power bill completely-which, using a single solar panel, is utter nonsense. Whenever we see DIY green energy sites that quote a specific savings to your power bill, we're automatically suspicious.We kept expecting Green DIY Energy to quote us a power bill savings... but it never happened. Instead, they took the much more practical approach of quoting how much electricity your homebuilt solar panel will generate (60 to 120 watts, depending on the size and type of solar cells used), and letting each customer do the math on how much they will save.Green DIY Energy's website also openly states that a single solar panel will NOT power your entire home. Rather, they encourage you to build several solar panels (when they cost $98 apiece to built, why not?), and that the addition of each new solar panel will reduce your power bill further. This is a much more realistic approach to how much their customers will save.ConclusionAs far as we can tell, Green DIY Energy looks legitimate. They avoid the grandiose claims, lies of omission, fuzzy logic and bad math that we've come to expect from green DIY energy scam sites. The advertising traps and pitfalls designed to bluff customers are simply not there on the Green DIY Energy website.Their promises, although more modest than their competitors, are also far more realistic. Can you really build a solar power system for $300, as Green DIY Energy claims? Although it's impossible to know for sure until we try it, we can say this: Green DIY Energy appears to be a legitimate, honest, and trustworthy company, selling a solid product. If you decide to try building your own solar panels from a manual purchased online, keep this product on your short list. From what we can tell, they seem more likely to be able to deliver on their promises.Discover how easy and affordable it can be to design and build your own solar panel [http://buildyourownsolarpanel101.com] system. Find out whether Green DIY Energy [http://greendiyenergyscam.org] is a scam or not!

14/12/2016

If you can put together an airplane model kit, you can put together a DIY flat pack home. The components to put them together come pre-assembled, and you can put one together in no time. The cost savings over traditional homes can't be beat, either. There are many websites that can give you helpful tips and advice to help you design some truly astonishing DIY homes and add-ons. Here are a few good ones.Home Channel Video: Building a Flat Pack Log CabinIf you enjoy working with your hands and exploring all the options of building a flat pack house on your own, then watch the video Lindsay Roper made that shows you how to put together your own DIY flat pack log cabin. Lindsay owns a Bed and Breakfast in the Cotswolds and was looking to expand her business by constructing a DIY log home on her property. The video shows her constructing the home from top to bottom in the gardens around her house.Lindsay accomplishes what she set out to do and winds up with a cozy wooden cabin with a veranda and double rooms at the end of the video. The log cabin looks downright quaint and at home in the beautiful surrounding area of the Cotswolds. Follow along closely with what she does on the video and you can order and construct your own. Be sure to watch all the videos on the Home Channel to build up your arsenal of DIY needs and knowledge.Ideabox.usOne example of a master DIY flat pack company and helpful resource for potential DIY owners is Ideabox. They manufacture affordable ultra-modern DIY homes that have been certified and decorated by the engineered green home association. They prefabricate small to big model homes that are green, energy efficient and help their homeowners lead a healthy lifestyle. They've even designed a whole community of flat panel DIYs in Eugene, Oregon.One thing that is of the most interest regarding them is the way the Ideabox team works with their clients to help them design their home, decorate it and place it on site. They call it the design phase, and the team meets with the customers to find the best fitting DIY home for their needs. They make building the home easy, and the team helps with all parts of the DIY home building process.Another great service they provide is helping their clients pick out an ideal site for their flat panel home to be placed on if they don't have a site yet. Ideabox is involved in all phases of the project and oversee their customer obtaining site work, general contractors, transportation and permits. The entire process takes about eight weeks, and then you are ready to live in your DIY flat panel home.SunPorch.comAnyone looking to put a really nice add on to their home should look up the online company, SunPorch. They get added to this list because of the simplicity of their website and providing an online link that makes putting together a DIY sun porch a cinch.You can use their online tool at the link to get a virtual 3D model and floor plans for your customized sun porch. You just enter in the zip code of where you live, and the link will prompt you to put in all the dimensions for the sun porch that you want.Once this is completed you'll get online blueprints and drawings that are so simple that you will have the sun porch put together in about two days. The baseline model price is quoted immediately when you are finished entering the size of the sun porch. Choosing any modification or features like extra doors automatically updates all the drawing and blueprints and the total cost of the sun porch. Delivery is free and delivered by a white gloves service to your doorstep.Historic Home RestorationSome of the most ambitious DIY undertakings are the historic do it yourself historic houses restoration projects. Whole homes are dismantled and carted off to another place to be re-assembled later. Sometimes it's even another country that the components are taken to. This practice started in 1870 when wealthy merchant, John Fulford fell in love with a nine-bedroom manor while he visited Norway. He had the mansion taken apart and shipped the pieces back to Britain. The home is currently up for sale, and they are asking for £500,000 for it.DIY historic houses don't have to be that much trouble. Many DIY savvy builders are disassembling historic old barns, numbering the pieces and shipping them to a new place where they are put together quite easily.Anyone that is looking for an inexpensive and easily assembled DIY flat pack home or add on should consult an online company that makes things simple for you to order the DIY and put it together onsite. Many of the online resources have many helpful tips and suggestions that make putting them together much easier. Keep in mind that you don't have to spend a lot of money or wait a long time to get the DIY home of your dreams.Patrick O'Reilly is a freelance writer and has constructed DIY flat pack homes and add ons for his lovely property in the mountains. He especially enjoys listening to his fellow DIY builder friends discuss their stories of using DIY components to aid in historic houses restoration projects. His friends found online resources like the ones at HomeDesignCity.com very helpful to the success of their project.

26/5/2016

This is the oldest hardware shop here in Fleet Hampshire. For anyone living locally. Situated on 234 Fleet road (next too the library) they sell lots of very good items, from garden furniture, garden tools, compost, strimmer line, gardening gloves, bedding plants, weed killer. Just about everything the bigger diy stores sell, this shop will have it. The staff here are very polite, helpful, and can advise you on anything you may be looking for, for your garden. If you are every needing anything for your garden. I would pop along and see them.The shop has been trading here for over 50 years. ​Article provided by fleetgardenservices.weebly.com